There have been so many scandals related to the unscrupulous promotion of expensive and ineffective – even dangerous supplements and treatments for weight loss and muscle gain, that wise consumers are being extremely cautious.

Let’s take a closer look at L-Carnitine and discover what can be expected of it; does it work, is it safe and where can you safely source L-Carnitine Injections?

These are just a few of the questions we will answer in this article.

But first, in case you are in a hurry, here are our recommended carnitine shots for humans:

What is L-Carnitine?

L-Carnitine is an amino acid composite – one of the building blocks of protein. It is known to increase the number of androgen receptors in muscles. These receptors allow muscle to utilize testosterone resulting in an enhanced ability to build muscle.

It also enhances the body’s ability to metabolize fat thereby enhancing energy levels. For body builders, this means faster muscle building and for dieters, the combination of L-Carnitine and exercise enhances fat burning.

L-Carnitine has become a popular supplement in the fitness industry and is now available in both oral and injectable supplements.

Benefits of L-Carnitine

Medically, this amino acid is used to treat heart and circulatory system disorders. It is also used to combat muscle disorders in AIDS patients as well as being used in the treatment of male infertility.

However, if you’re not competing, there’s no reason to avoid it. There are no serious health risks – in fact, unlike harmful steroids – they may actually benefit your overall health.

Additional Benefits of L-Carnitine

L-carnitine shots are more than just a quick fix that helps you lose weight and gain muscle. The medical uses for this nutrient will give you some clues.

It is used to treat ADHD and Alzheimer’s – you’ll be able to concentrate better and overall brain function is improved. It’s also used for the treatment of heart and cardiovascular disease – if you use it, you’re less likely to develop these problems.

Plus, because it is a powerful antioxidant, it helps your body to get rid of toxins – the by-products of physical processes that sometimes build up making us more prone to illnesses such as cancer.

That’s not all: thanks to the improvement in your fat metabolism, you’re also less likely to get Type 2 Diabetes, a disease that has been on the rise owing to modern lifestyles.

L-Carnitine is used in the treatment of male infertility, so if you’ve been trying to conceive without success, it could be the answer you’re looking for.

To top it all, it can improve the texture and appearance of your skin.

Combining L-Carnitine and L-Arginine

These 2 amino acids are often combined for even more therapeutic benefit. The combination is favorable, adding the L-Arginine ensures improved HGH and protein production.

In addition, the body is better able to produce Nitric Oxide which helps to improve blood circulation and which may have the ‘side effect’ of improved delivery of nutrients and which may improve sexual ability in men.

You can purchase US pharmacy manufactured L-Carnitine/L-Arginine via an online telemedicine service. You can go here for more information about that service.

L-Carnitine Reviews

You won’t have far to look if you’re looking for reviews on L-Carnitine.

Most users claim that it improved their overall health and that they experienced a positive impact on their energy levels and stamina.

One reviewer said that Acetyl-L Carnitine failed to show weight loss effects, but that she had successfully lost weight with L-Carnitine.

A bodybuilder commented that unlike other supplements, it did not make him feel ‘weird’. An elderly patient commented on its effect on mental clarity.

Almost all reviewers remarked that they experienced a feeling of increased energy and that they experienced accelerated weight loss.

Of course, every product has its critics, but the majority of reviews from people who have used the product, even over extended periods of time, are very favorable.

Does L-Carnitine Really Work?

The widespread use of L-Carnitine in the fitness industry is testament to the fact that it is seen as an effective way to burn fat and build muscle. Fitness professionals also cite quicker muscle recovery after exercise.

Scientific research on the medical benefits of L-Carnitine suggest that it has a wide range of medical applications including the prevention of heart disease, the improvement of sexual functioning and as a treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease.

How Long Does it Take to See Results?

The improved energy that L-Carnitine gives you can be felt as soon as it is absorbed into the bloodstream. That’s why you should use it pre-workout to amplify your results.

In terms of enhanced fat loss, you can expect measurable results within 2 weeks providing you are combining it with a healthy diet and exercise.

Types of L-Carnitine Supplements

Injections are not the only way to take L-Carnitine, it actually comes in many different oral formulations as well including powder, liquid, tablet and capsule.

In addition to this, there are different froms of the nutrient available, most common are; L-Carnitine, N-Acetyl L-Carnitine, Acetyl L-Carnitine and L-Carnitine Tartrate.

Here is a brief overview of each:

L-Carnitine – Because it helps convert fat into energy, this is the preferred form for weight loss and bodybuilding benefits.

Acetyl L-Carnitine – Is a processed form of L-Carnitine that can cross the blood-brain barrier and is therefore the preferred form for cognitive benefits such as improved memory. This form still helps to convert fat into energy but not as efficiently as others.

N-Acetyl Carnitine – This is another name for Acetyl L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine Tartrate – Also a preferred from for weight loss and exercise performance due to its ability to mobilize fat out of storage and into the mitochondria where it is used for energy.

Injectable L-Carnitine vs Oral Supplements

You may wonder, is injectable L-Carnitine better than oral L-Carnitine formulations? Many would argue that the answer to this question is a resounding – ‘Yes’! Here’s why…

There are various ways of taking L-Carnitine, but absorption of supplements by the digestive system is not as effective as we might wish. Whilst absorption into the blood via the capillaries found in the nostrils and under the tongue is more effective, much of the active ingredient is lost.

Administering L-Carnitine via an injection ensures that your body gets the full dose and all the associated benefits.

When administered using an intramuscular injection, carnitine will be absorbed from the muscle directly into the bloodstream ensuring an easily controllable dose and guaranteed absorption.

In addition to this, there is evidence to suggest that L-Carnitine is more effective when administered via injection indicating that the best L-Carnitine supplement will always be the injectable format.

Of course, using an injectable form of any supplement means that you need to be extra-sure about its origins. For example, many of the injectable L-Carnitine supplements found on the market are intended for veterinary purposes only (for race horses and greyhounds).

Some products may contain none of the amino acid whatsoever.

When buying L-Carnitine, ensure that the product you get is for humans and that it comes from a reputable, regulated compounding pharmacy in the US.

You can do this by enrolling in a telemedicine program online and once a doctor has reviewed your information and approved your use of l-carnitine, the injections will be shipped to you from the pharmacy.

L-Carnitine Injections for Humans vs Animals

L-Carnitine has long been used in veterinary medicine, and the interesting results produced by research in veterinary medicine led to its re-formulation into a human supplement.

The confusion between these two different uses for L-Carnitine have led to sensational headlines stating that ‘horse medicine’ or ‘greyhound medicines’ are being used by athletes.

This is not necessarily true as most athletes with a scrap of common sense will avoid medicines formulated for animals.

This is because veterinary medicines are formulated using a less rigorous set of standards than those intended for human use.

A Guide to Using Injectable L-Carnitine

Before making the decision to use L-Carnitine, either as an injection on its own or in a combination such as the Arginine/Carnitine Combo, there are a few things you might want to know.

Below we have attempted to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about using L-Carnitine injections.

How Do I Inject L-Carnitine?

Intramuscular injections are required to allow for slow release of the L-Carnitine into the bloodstream. The best sites for this type of injection are the buttock and thigh.

If you choose the former, you will need someone to help you with the injection.

It is possible to inject yourself in the thigh, but the density of the muscles will result in your feeling the shot a little more.

For instructions on how to administer an intramuscular injection, including detailed infographics click here.

L-Carnitine can be taken any time of day but is best taken pre-exercise

Do NOT use L-Carnitine if you are pregnant or breast feeding

Change the injection site regularly to prevent scarring (1 inch apart is ideal)

Dispose of used needles correctly

Always follow storage and dosing instructions given

Consult a doctor if you are taking medications or have any preexisting medical conditions

What is the Recommended Dose for L-Carnitine?

This is something that should be determined with the assistance of your prescribing practitioner. The standard dose for L-Carnitine is 250 – 1500 mg per day.

Do not administer more than 2000mg daily unless under medical supervision. In general, a dose of 250mg is administered 30 minutes before a workout.

If you are using L-Carnitine from RiverFront MD, this equates to 0.5ml per day since each ml contains 500mg. The Argnine/Carnitine Combo is administered in a similar way.

How Often Should I Use It?

Some people choose to use L-Carnitine less frequently, but positive research results were obtained when administered on a daily basis.

If you are using daily L-Carnitine injections, it is a good idea to cycle off them every 5 weeks and give your body a 2-3 week break from it between rounds.

What Type of Needle Should I Use?

Since these are best injected intramuscularly, a standard 15.9mm needle for intramuscular injections is recommended. These should be supplied when you purchase the L-Carnitine solution.

How Should I Choose My Injection Site?

There are several possible sites for intra-muscular injections, but the buttock and thigh are considered to be the best sites.

If someone can help you with the injection, the buttock is the most painless injection site, while the thigh is the most convenient and accessible site if you are injecting yourself.

To choose the injection site on your thigh, place your hand at the front and top of your thigh and imagine a rectangle below your fingertips.

Determine the lower limit of the area by placing your hand at the top of the knee. An imaginary line drawn through the center of this field represents the best injection site on the thigh.

If someone is helping you to inject your buttock, they can use an alcohol swab to draw a line from the top of the buttock crack to the side.

Begin 3 inches from the center of the line and draw a line downwards, bisecting the first line. The upper, outer quadrant contains a curved bone and the injection site is just beneath this.

Does it Hurt to Inject L-Carnitine?

L-carnitine injections are no more painful than other shots. Limit discomfort by:

Injecting the buttock. It hardly hurts at all and recovers quickly.

Ensuring that the alcohol you used to disinfect the skin is properly dry before proceeding with the injection.

Injecting the solution slowly.

Relaxing the muscle during the injection.

Side Effects of L-Carnitine

L carnitine shots – or anything you inject into your body should not be taken lightly – that’s why you want to know about any potential side effects.

According to doctors, the only serious contra-indication is a tendency towards seizures. If you experience seizures, you should not use L-Carnitine.

If you suffer from an under-active thyroid, your condition may or may not be aggravated.

There is no information on its effects in pregnant women, so to be on the safe side, it should be avoided during pregnancy and breast feeding.

Consult your doctor if you are using thyroid medications or blood-thinning agents such as Warfarin or Acenocoumarol as the dose may have to be adjusted owing to improved blood circulation.

In rare cases, minor L-carnitine side effects such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea as well as dizziness and headaches have been reported.

Most healthy individuals do not experience any side effects of these injections. Because the body excretes any excess easily, you can’t overdose. However, more is not better since it will simply be excreted.

Stick to the recommended dose if only to save yourself some money!

Are There Negative Effects on My Health?

A widely publicized study stated that there was a link between L-Carnitine and arteriosclerosis. This directly conflicts with other research that found L-Carnitine beneficial in treating and preventing heart disease. Who is right?

Whenever we look at research findings, it is interesting to see how the study was conducted. There are serious flaws in the study that found potentially harmful effects for L-Carnitine users.

The bulk of the data was accumulated by using mice as test subjects. Only 6 human subjects were involved in the study – far too few to produce a significant statistical result.

Vanessa completed a Bachelor of Naturopathy at Southern Cross University in Australia. She worked in private practice for a decade before realizing her passion for writing. Vanessa has spent the past 4 years ghost-writing for many online publications under various pen names including this one.

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content on this website.